There may be only five League One fixtures taking place this weekend, but there is still plenty to look forward to at both ends of the table.
The weekend’s action will kick-off at The Valley on Friday night when play-off-chasing Charlton and Accrington Stanley go head-to-head, while a further four matches will take place on Saturday with three of the top-five sides in action.
Goals Galore at The Valley
Charlton were perhaps suffering from a New Year hangover last weekend when they lost 2-0 at Hull, as the Addicks had been on a four-game unbeaten run prior to that defeat and had scored 10 goals during that time, including five in a recent home victory over Wimbledon.
LB: “There’s a good atmosphere around the place. The players are happy, we’re sixth and in amongst it. We need to not panic, do the right things and we’ll get it right.” #cafc
— Charlton Athletic FC (@CAFCofficial) January 6, 2021
However, Lee Bowyer’s side have also been suspect at the back throughout the campaign, as they have the worst defensive record in the top 10 of the division and they have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last six games.
Accrington have not been in action since before Christmas and it is difficult to tell whether the rest will have benefited John Coleman’s side or if they will be rusty.
One thing that should be guaranteed is goals, as Stanley have scored in each of their last six on the road, netting more than once in four of those games, so backing over 2.5 goals in the match on Friday at 23/20 seems shrewd.
Tigers to Pounce on Black Cats
Hull will head into the weekend sitting second in the standings after they snapped a three-game losing streak with victory over Charlton last time out.
The Tigers will now fancy their chances of making it back-to-back league wins for the first time in over a month when they visit a Sunderland side that are still finding their feet under Lee Johnson after drawing their last two games.
The Black Cats have particularly struggled on home soil this season, as they have failed to win any of their last five at the Stadium of Light, with the expectancy surrounding the north east club appearing to take it’s toll.
This was a Premier League fixture less than four years ago and with Hull looking the more likely of the two sides to mount a promotion push this term, it would seem a Tigers win at 2/1 could be way to go.
Posh to Face Rude Awakening at Sincil Bank
Table-topping Lincoln have rediscovered their best form over recent weeks, winning each of their last three games and scoring 11 goals in the process.
The Imps have blown hot and cold on home soil of late, but they set about making Sincil Bank a fortress again when thrashing Burton Albion 5-1 in their last home fixture.
Michael Appleton’s side should have too much for Saturday’s visitors Peterborough, as the Posh have a poor away record considering they remain fifth in the table.
Indeed, Darren Ferguson’s side have picked up just one point from their last four away games and it seems unlikely their rot will stop at the home of the league leaders, so backing a Lincoln win at 5/4 appears to make sense, particularly as the Imps have won three and drawn one of their last four home games against Peterborough.
*All odds correct at time of writing